Invictus 2018: preserving the memories

27 November 2018

By David Gist

The cheers from the Invictus Games 2018 may have faded, but the memories of this unique event will remain strong for competitors and audiences alike.

To help preserve these memories, the Australian War Memorial has taken possession of several pieces of Invictus Games memorabilia, one of which is a lot like some of the competitors: big, strong, and almost unbreakable.

Acquisitions Officer Aiden Silvestro was on hand to receive a large, three-dimensional “I AM” ­– the motto of the Invictus Games. Rendered in powder-coated steel, standing around two metres tall, and weighing 140 kg, this hefty piece of memorabilia is being assessed by Memorial conservation staff in our Treloar facility at Mitchell.

Before finding a home at the Memorial, the piece provided daily inspiration to competitors and their families at Invictus Games House, the name conferred on the Dome at Sydney Olympic Park for the duration of the games.

Invictus Games House was a unique place for competitors and their families. Logistics Manager Daniel Moriarty explained that, as an Olympic Games village has an international zone for different nationalities to congregate, the Invictus Games had Invictus Games House, where competitors and their families could relax, unwind, and take the opportunity to get to know their fellow competitors from around the world. The unique requirements of Invictus Games competitors were also catered for, with assistance dogs available and daily activities for children.

The Memorial’s “I AM” bears the signatures of numerous competitors, who added their unique messages throughout the course of the games. These will be preserved as a permanent reminder of the people who competed in Sydney during that remarkable week in October 2018.